Rather Than an Ending

You show me the path of life. in your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore. – Psalm 16:11 (NRSVUE) 

I will be 63 soon, and I am looking at my pension reports and that annual mailing from the Social Security Administration with a different kind of curiosity. A growing segment of my coaching practice is working with pastors just a tiny bit older than I am who are trying to figure out when to retire and how to do it well. The questions I ask them are the same questions I have begun to ask myself. What energy do I have for my work? In what ways are my gifts—the talents God gave me—being used well? What aspects of the work bring me “fullness of joy?” And what might I feel ready to release? 

My answers today allow me to push timing questions into the future. God feels present in my work. I feel motivated to continue deepening my skills, and I love being a thinking partner for colleagues of all ages and phases of ministry. Leaving this work behind now would be a loss, so the “when” of the “what’s next” still feels far away.  

Yet I know whenever that day comes, I want to approach it as a beginning rather than an ending. My usefulness will not be used up. God’s gifts of empathy and presence will still be part of who I am; I hope I will be faithful and committed, creative and caring, in whatever form that might be expressed. That’s the path of life God has shown me, and I trust God will continue to point the way.  

Prayer
Holy One, we give thanks for the paths you show us; may we follow you our whole lives long. Amen.

About the Author
Martha Spong is a UCC pastor, a clergy coach, and editor of The Words of Her Mouth: Psalms for the Struggle, from The Pilgrim Press.